Wartime badge. I think it is plastic.'39th Army Commemorative Day, Certain Victory Commemorative, Tokyo Patriotic Youth Brigade [??Large March??], Under the Leadership of Toyama Army Academy, Sponsored by Mainichi Newspaper Company, The City of Tokyo, and the Tokyo Patriotic Youth Brigade.'

Not exactly sure of the year, but the date was March 10, in commemoration of the great victory over Russia on that date in 1905. I don't know when the first celebration of this began, but if it dates to the original battle, this badge would date to 1944.

This seems to be modeled on the Order of the Rising Sun. Hallmarked as 'pure silver' and the main piece weighs about 46 grams--quite substantial. Inscribed 'Fukagawa City Merit Medal.' A rosette is also attached to the inside of the case.

The Noma Association is a martial arts group. Noma is also very famous as the founder of Kodansha Publishing Company.

The inscription reads 'Merit, Conquer China Commemorative Medal, Tochigi Prefecture [??].'The old kanji for China is used here, so this is from the 1894-5 War.The coin/medal appears to have been polished recently. It shines.Hallmarked on the edge: Made by Tamaya [玉屋製].

Inscribed 'Osaka Mitsukoshi.' Mitsukoshi is one of the oldest and most famous department stores in Japan.

The design shows the Three Human Suicide Bombers. Measures about 3.5 cm by 3 cm.

An explosion on media images celebrating the war in China hit the country around 1931. Among these images, the most famous is the Nikudan Sanyushi. These were 3 soldiers who were blown up in the line of duty in Shanghai.

'The army publicized the three deaths as a conscious act of suicide, claiming the young men had sacrificed themselves to explode a section of wire fence impeding the army's advance. Various rumors circulated at the time contradicting the army's account. Some said the three had died because their commanding officer cut the fuse too short or because he had given them the wrong type of fuse; others suggested that the men attempted to abandon their mission but their commander ordered them to follow through.' from Louise Young's Japan's Total Empire (page 77).

This fad was really popular for about a year, but it faded as other topics became the new fad. Most Nikudan items, then, date from 1931-1933. Note that there was also a 5 Human Bomb group also popular in the media at the time.

In order to heighten awareness of the importance of the Army to the nation, an Army ordinance was issued in 1925. This required all middle schools to include military-style training in the school curriculum.

This badge commemorates the 15th Anniversary of the ordinance, so it dates to 1940. The obverse reads 'Imperial Inspection Commemorative' and also on the reverse is 'Okayama Prefecture Middle Schools, [Supporting Assistant?] Badge.'

The badge measures about 3 cm long.

Rare Nakajima Aircraft Company badge. The company logo is at the bottom center--the kanji for NAKA encircled by 3 aircraft and a ring.

Very rare Commemoration of the Sinking of the Ottoman Frigate Ertugrul in 1890. See the full story on WIKIPEDIA.

This medal is dated March 6 (or maybe June 3) 1937 and appears to be for the unveiling ceremony of a monument. The case, extremely rare, reads 'Award from the Turkish Ambassador.'

The medal itself measures about 4 cm in diameter.

From Wikipedia:

'Ertuğrul, launched in 1863, was a sailing frigate of the Ottoman Navy. While returning from a goodwill voyage from Japan in 1890, she encountered a typhoon off the coast of Wakayama Prefecture, subsequently drifted into a reef and sank. The maritime accident resulted in the loss of 533 sailors, including Admiral Ali Osman Pasha. Only sixty-nine sailors and officers survived and returned home later aboard two Japanese corvettes. The event is still commemorated as a foundation stone of Japanese-Turkish friendship.'

Frigate Ertuğrul Memorial in Kushimoto, Japan

1929 British Industry Meeting in Tokyo. No case.WEC may refer to the World Energy Council.

1929 World Power Conference in Tokyo. Probably attached to the button hole on a lapel--the magatama (勾玉 imperial jewel) attachment is a nice touch.

Original case.

Small and thin badge celebrating the 1921 Crown Prince (later Showa Emperor) voyage to Europe.This may have been a giveaway of some sort.

Small and thin badge with the image of Admiral Togo. The reverse looks to be a famous saying of his.This may have been a giveaway of some sort.

There is an emblem above the flags, but I cannot identify it. Inscribed on the obverse: 'Imperial Russia. Welcoming Committee.' On the reverse: 'Sponsored by New Aichi Newspaper Company. Taisho 5 [1916] August 18.'

There are shaking hands above the flags. Inscribed on the obverse: 'Imperial Russia. Welcoming Committee.' On the reverse: 'Sponsored by Aichi Prefecture. Taisho 5 [1916] November.'

4 badges from the Great Japan Forestry Association. Established in 1882. Responsible for overseeing the development of the woods and forests. It is rare to find these badges, and here we have four different varieties, two of which have the original cases. Included are1. 'Great Japan Forestry Association Special Silver Merit Badge.' Original lacquered wood case.2. 'Great Japan Forestry Association Special Member Badge.' Gold gilt; original cardboard case.3. 'Great Japan Forestry Association Regular Member Badge.' Silver; no case.4. 'Great Japan Forestry Association 50th Anniversary Commemorative Badge. Showa 6 [1931] June.' No case (the case included here is a REPLACEMENT).

Inscribed 'Occupation of Port Arthur Commemorative.' This happened in 1895, so I am assuming this small piece was made to commemorate that event. The design shows a Japanese flag flying over a Chinese building.